Method of producing combustible vapor



A. T. PORTER. METHOD OF PRODUCING COMBUSTIBLE VAPOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1.911. RENEWED OCT. 1, 1919.

r 5] vwe'ntop Patented Mar. 28

To all whom it the flame'at high velocity,

'point, nor decompose,

the art as a cool vapor.

UNITED STATES PATENT- A OFFICE;

ALEXANDER THOMAS PORTER, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

METHQD OF PRODUCING- COMBUSTIBLE VAPOR.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Application filed May 5, 1917, Serial No. 166,639. Renewed Oct ber 7, 1919. Serial No. 329, 144.

may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER THOMAS PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Elizabeth, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Method of Producing Which It has been Formed, of

is a specification, refer- Li uid from drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object of the invention is to convert combustible liquids, temporarily, into that .form of vapor commonly known as fog condition without chemically changing the liquid and by means which will cause the vapor to persist in that fog condition for a suflicient length of time so that 'it can be utilized for the various purposes to which it may be adapted.

When, by a ble liquid is so tion of a flame, with theminimum' amount of combustion necessary, the liquid will not increase in temperature beyond its boiling and theproduct will correctmethod, the combustibe what is known 1n I have found that "various combustible liquids in this fog condition have valuable medicinal qualities, that they can be readily and safely taken into the respiratory organs of the human body and can also be used as a carrier for other substances employed in medical practice.

I have found that hydro-carbon oil when put into this tog condition in the manner stated can be used also and is well adapted for heating purposes andis of special value for internal combustion use.

The vaporproduced by this process being capable ofwithstanding low temperature and high compression, this method would be a very valuable factor in the process of manufacturin'g dyes from tar and hydro-carbon products.

I have had previous experience with a process where, by the coordination of certain elements, hydro-carbon oil atomized byair, was passed into a flame of sufficient extent and intensity and caused to pass through thereby producing an effect on. the oil of vaporization only; however, by this method there was difliculty in the application of the product to some of the uses to which it was adapted; for .in-

Combustible Vapor -Having Approximately the Efficiency of the transformed by the direct ac-.

was essential for preparing requirmg .it would be essential that as the atomizlng 'medium,

changing (atomized) material with the flame and this in turn I; found IWaS occasioned by, andw'as' incidental to, the too complete difi'usion' of the atomized air used in the process through the material under treatment; I sought to overcome this difficulty by localizing the combustion-supporting air with a view to localizing the flame, but found it impossible to dol so for the reason that the ordinary methods of atomization employed required the use of an amount of air considerably in excessof the requirements of the process.

Iifound in attaining the object of this invention that atomization by an aeriform medium, as distinct from ordinary spraying, the material for treatment, the flame action on.the material to be practically instantaneous and that atomization, as an importantelement of the invention, requires the atomizing medium be reduced to the least possible proporbe inob ect of the invention is Y tion; for whatever tended, a primary to put the material intended for vapor-production into a condition of atomization where the flame action will cause instant vaporization without ignition.

If the product be intended for medical use use the vapor may the use of which,

for the reasons already shown, should be reducedto the least possible amount, whileif Patented Mar. as, 1922.-

air should be used when subjected to thesevere confrom low to high elements the product were intended for other use, say

internal combustion, and a. non-combustion-- supporting instance, the exhaust from the engine, 1 would then, also, for obvious reasons be desirable to. reduce as much aspossible the relative quantity of the atomizing medium.

In the positive form of. atomizers (those where the air is brought into direct contact medium were used, such as, for

- liquid before they reach the pointof atomi-' with the liquid before it reaches the atomizing nozzle and'which are the most economical in air consumption) the air isbrought into contact with the liquid at a distance more 'or less remote from the atomizing nozzle, causing a Stratification of the air and zat1on,'consequently the aircannot cause the full'theoretic eflect. Iobviate-this difficulty by the formia'of atomizer shown in the drawings, by the atomizing medium and and localize a strati'form combustion zone I,

in the spray so that the relative proportion of the spra which should be subjected to actual com ustion and the amount that should be 'subjected'tothe effect (heat, etc.)

of that combustioncan be determined and fixed.

I have-discovered that if a combustible liquid such ashydro-carbon oil, for instance kerosene, be suitably prepared and enclosed in a tubuliform flame envelope with which it wouldbe. in direct contact, under correct conditions, the oil will under those circumstances be transformed,- without chemical change, from a liquid to a condition of cool fog vapor irrespective of the ordinary demands made on the apparatus carrying out the process. A further feature ofthe invention is the combustion-supporting atmosphere to the fine 'outwardfringe of the atomized spray, which, when ignited, produces the tubuliform flame envelope of the intensity required to produce the; cool fog vapor condition.

The combustion air being another and veryimportant element of thisinvention, it

' 1s desirable that the manner of its applica tion' and how it should function and coopcrates with the other elements should be clearly shown.-

I I by the onrushofthe In the previous invention which I assisted workingout, the combustion air was admitted back of the atomizing nozzle, where,

' was admitted at if point. in the combustion chamber where there wouldbe less than atmospheric pressure while the atomizer was in operation; thus providing a'supp ly of 2-2 combustionair byinduction, and caus ng it to difiuse throughout the spray; the direc- 'tion of flow being toward the point of atom- .es A

ization.

a s an obstruction and clrcum'ferentlal admission of a regulatable I atomized spray a partial vacuunrwas created, in other words,'it'

In this invention the combustion air is conveyed past the point where'it can be influenced by the partial vacuum produced by the atomizer, and delivered at a point in the combustion chamber ahead of the atomizer where the pressure would be greater ;than atmospheric pressure until a less than atmospheric the suction of the engine, when, the direction of flow would not be to the centre but longitudinally of the combustion chamber, with little or no tendency todiffusion of the com-- bustion air throughout the spray.

By the proper use and coordination of the foregoing elements I am enabled to utilize another element which is of great importance.

The heavy fog vapor thus produced having a very low percentage of admixed air is highly resistant to flame action, (rouse quently, by properly restricting the vapor at the discharge end of the combustion cham up at that point, thereby extinguishing the flame envelope her, I cause it to bank and thus determining the extent (length) of the flame and consequently the time actionof the flame on the material under treatment.

It isimportant that the spray should not meet any obstruction in its travel which would cause it to condense, and by the foregoing arrangement I am able toremove all pressure condition was caused-by SOllCl obstruction, such as screens,\bafiles', etc,

in the path of travel of the atomized spray while itis ,belngconverted into the desired vaporous condition.

A further feature of the invention isthe removal of the ignitiondevice' from the path of the atomized spray, thereby removing it placing it where it will come in contact with the .finer eddies from the spray fringe only, which, having a high admixture explosive mixture and will not, in consequence, foul the electrodes of the sparking device.-

Theignition device is also set at such anangle to the flowof the material that no' accumulation of oil can occur there to cause ashort clrcuit.

' My inventlon will be furthervexp'lained with reference to ,the accompanying drawof air is in the form of an ings, illustrating an apparatus for carrving the invention into efi'ect: thereafter I shall point out the invention in claims;

' Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an apparatus suitable for carrying out the process. I v

Figure2 is an end view ofhead 1 looking in the direction of the arrows on lines Figure 3' is a on line 3-3. x

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective of nut 8. 3

sectional view of Figure 1 carries the atomizer '21 and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the combustion chamber restriction v I Figure .6 is a sectional view of Figure 5 on lines 66.

delivering and controlling the combustion I and control the flow of supporting air in the manner required. The combustion chamber '12 carries the ignition device, also 'the restricting wall 15 which regulates the flow of the vapor from the apparatus at the opening 15*.

Inlet 4. in head 1 is adapted to carry a needle valve (not shown) or other suitable device for supplying and controlling the flow of the combustible liquid which, under pressure, is there admitted to the apparatus and flows thence to annular chamber 3. Inlet 6 is adapted to carry a needle valve (not shown) or other suitable device to receive the atomizing medium which is there admitted and flows thence, under pressure, to passage 5, where it and the combustible liquid come in physical contact'in a direct line with and-close to the opening 2, in atomizing nozzle 2. In this way-when the apparatus is put in operation b opening .valves at 4' and 6 the com usti le liquid and the atomizing medium being under pressure, produce at 2 an atomized spray of the fineness required with the least possible amount'of the 'atomizing medium, the object of the invention being to reduce the combustible liquid to the required-degreeof fineness while keeping its degree of combustibility as low .as possible. It is well known that combustible liquid such as kerosene or-fuel oil are difiion t of ignition except when used in connection with a saturated wick, or finely divided with a considerable admixture of air. For this reason the amount of air used in atomizing will determine, for the purpose of the process, the degree of combustibility of the liquid and if'a' dead gas, such as the exhaust from an internal combustion engine is used as the atomizing medium, the atomized spray will be at ts highest point of resistance to combustibility. .Thus it will be seen that to cause the atomized spray to ignite and to sustain combustion it is necessary to admit to the chamber 12 a; combustion supporting atmosphere,

and only where that atmosphere becomes intimately associated or mixed withthe' spray will combustion prevail. For this reason provision is made for the admission of combustion supwith --t e spray in such a manner and to a air which is brought into contact.

suflicient degree to cause combustion of part of the spray suflicient to cause the remainder ofthe spray to increase in temperature to its boiling or vaporizing point. For this purpose air is admitted by some suitable controlling device at opening 9 in cap 9*.

If the apparatus is attached to a vacuum pump or internal combustion engine the combustion air will pressure, otherwise it may be necessary to put it under independent pressure.

The combustion air admitted at'9 spreads in chamber 10 andpasses uniformly through passages 11 into the annular space 8 created by flange 8* of nut 8 fitting snugly 1n the entrance to chamber 12,'wherethe air again spreads and equalizes and passes through opening 14 in flange 8 of nut 8 and is delivered by flange 7 in a uniform stream circumferentially to chamber 12. As hereinbe'fore explained,

if the flange 7 is extended flow in at atmospheric to a point -in chamber 12 where the combustion air is delivered free from the influence of the spray at the point-of the atomizing nozzle it will take the shortest course and path of least resistance and will travel circumferentiallyof the chamber 12 'to the In carrying out the process the principal question to be determined is the amount 0 combustion necessary to vaporize the. material not undergoing "combustion. The amount of combustion is determined by two factors; one'the intensity ofthe flame, the other the depth to which the flame action penetrates the atomized spray. can be predetermined.

The intensity of the flame is determined by the amount of air admittedthrough the controlling device at 9. The depth to which the combustion will penetrate the spray will depend on the'length of flange 7, the shorter flange 7 is made the more Wlll the combustion air be brought under the influence of thep'artial vacuum produced at the atom-' izing nozzle where, the toward the center of the chamber, consequently the. more the combustion air is brought underthat influence, the deeper will it penetrate the spray and, naturally, the flame will follow, so, obviously, by regulating the amount of combustion air, and its point of delivery to ber, the-exact amount of combustion which will take place can be'determined.

"As the atomized spray passes on through combustion chamber 12 surrounded by its combustion supporting atmosphere the finer outer particlues of the spray mixed with the combustion air come in contact with the spark created by the electrode 17 of sparking device 16 and. immediately a tubuliform flame is produced, through which the vaporproduci-ng part of the spray travels'until it is vaporized.

Both of thesethe combustion cham- The contracting wall 15 at direction of flow is the outlet of the combustion chamber causes the cool, heavy vapor with its low percent- .age of air to extinguish the flame at that shown on Fig. 1 at 15, it consists of two caps 22 and 23, the inner cap 23 having twoslots.

25, on opposite sides; the, outer cap 22 has similar slots 24 arranged "as shown in Figures 5 and 6 so that the vapor flows-through slots 25 and passes between caps 22 and 23 and has its outlet at slots 24 in outer cap.

' vention.

This arrangement is intended for high speed engines where the suction is variable, sudden and severe.

Should the apparatus, for any reason, fail to function properly causing oil to flow through, unvaporized, a. drip opening 26 (Fig. 5) is provided which can 'beconnected with any suitable receptacle. Y

maybe made in the method above particularly described and also in the construction for carrying out such method shown in the drawings and above particularly described within the principle and scope of my in- I In this process so delicate yet precise in in a natural manner without artificial ex pedients. .45

its operation'and where the product can be put to so many uses, an'apparatus to give it 1 expression musthave great flexibility. Ifeel that I have not only accomplished this purpose, but also reached the. other ,great desideratumrof mechanically expressing the process. by an extremely simple device where the elements, operate and coordinate I do not -confine myself. to the method of atomizing shown in the drawings, but show it as'a means whereby one of the essential elements can be expressed; a fundamental feature of the invention being the discover that it was necessary to put the material under treatment into a condition so that it would be highly susceptible. to flame action but highly" resistant (comparatively) to combustibility and the working out of a method to give effect to that principle: I claim 1. The -method of producing a' cool fog vapor from a combustible liquid, which consists in providing a supply of combustible liquid, atomizing the liquid, admitting a combustion supporting medium in th form of a tubularfilm to the atomized liquid, ighiting the outer portion of the atomized liquid to form a tubular flame whereby the unignited portion of the combustible liquid vapor from a combustible liquid, which conliquid is transformed into an atomized spray,

admitting a combustion supporting medium in the form of a tubular film to the atomized spray, igniting only the outer portion of the atomized liquid to form. a. tubular flame whereby the unignit ed portion of the combustible liquid .is converted into a cool fog vapor, and discontinuingcombustion when the liquid has been-transformed to a'cool fog vapor.

3. The method of producing a cool fog 5 sists in providing a suppl' of combustible liquid, atomizing the liquid admitting'a tuv bular film of combustion supporting medium I to the atomized liquid, igniting the outer portion of the atomized quid to form. a

tubular flame,- combustion'being supported 1 It is obvious that various modificatlon's' by thev combustionsupporting medium, ea'us ing unignited atomized liquid to travel within the tubular flameuntil the liquidihas been transformedto a cool tog va or, and discontinuing .combustionwhent e liquid has been transformed to a cool fog vapor.

4. The method of producing a cool fog vapor from a combustible liquid, which consists in providing a supply of combustible liquid,- atomizing the liquid, admitting a regulatablel supply of combustion supportingmedium in the form" of a tubular film to the atomized liquidfigniting the outer portion of the atomized liquid to forma tuular flame whereby the unignited portion of the combustible liquid is converted into a cool fog vapor. and discontinuing combustion when the liquid has been transformed to a cool fog vapor.

5. The method of producing a cool fog vapor from a combustible liquid, which con-. sists in providing a supply of combustible y liquid. atomizing the liquid, admitting a tubular film of combustion supporting medium to the atomized liquid, igniting the outer portion of the atomized 'liquid to form a tubular flame, causing the unignited portion of. the liquid to travel within the tubular flame and in contact therewith whereby the 0- uni'gnited atomized liquid is converted into a fog vapor, and discontinuing combustion when the liquid has been transformed to a .cool fog vapor.

,6. The method of producing a cool fog vapor from, a combustible liquid, which consists in providing a supplyofcombustible liquid. introducing into the liquid an admixture of air insuflicient to support combustion of the liquid, the liquid being transformed 1 into an atomized spray by the admixture of air, admittin a combustion supporting medium circum erentially to the atomize spray, igniting thatportion of the atomized liquid to which the combustion supporting medium has been admitted to produce a tubular form flame whereby the liquid is converted into a cool fog vapor, and discontinuing combustion when the liquid has been transformed to a cool fog vapor.

7. The process of produclng a cool fog vapor from combustible liquid, which consists in producing a substantially continuous supply of combustible liquid, atomizing the ALEXANDER THOMAS PORTER.

\Vitnesses:

WILBERT R. Warm,

WILLIAM H. Gama. 

